Summer Tomatoes: Tomato, Red Onion, and Pesto Open-Faced Sandwich

For as long as I can remember, my parents have abstained from eating tomatoes unless it’s summer.

“Oh, we’d never buy a tomato in the market,” my dad says, year after year.

“We wait for dad’s tomatoes — they’re the best,” my mom always adds.

My dad starts his summer tomato crop from seed — in little, tiny containers that sit on a tray on an antique stove until they’re ready for planting. He transplants these beautiful baby plants to the ground, variety by variety — each with great care.

In my parents’ house, this Tomato, Red Onion and Pesto Open-Faced Sandwich is presented at the dinner table a few times a week every summer. My mom makes the pesto with their homegrown basil, while my dad picks the tomatoes. (I love it! No wonder they’ve been married for 48 years! ;-))

My proud “farmer” dad with his gorgeous tomatoes!

How could I grown up in this environment, and not love whole, organic, fresh foods?!

Look at that garden, how lush! I always have good intentions at the beginning of summer, only that I kill all my plants by the end of June. I am sure I am missing some gene or particular skill because I just realized my fresh mint is dead. The herb everyone says you can not kill it.
Enjoy your sandwich, it looks gorgeous. I will head to the farmer’s market to get bunch more tomatoes.